The Australian Maritime Safety Authority, which is coordinating the rescue, said in a tweet that it was “awaiting confirmation that the Antarctica rescue operation has begun.”

Earlier in the day, AMSA had reported a postponement because sea ice prevented a barge ferrying between the Chinese-registered Snow Dragon and the Australian polar supply ship Aurora Australis.

The Aurora is less than 2 { miles from the Snow Dragon. The Shokalskiy is about 13 { miles away.

The plan was for the 52 passengers aboard the Shokalskiy to be ferried off in groups of 12 by the Snow Dragon’s helicopter and then transferred by barge from the Snow Dragon to the Aurora.

The 22-strong Russian crew was to stay with its vessel.

Of the 52 passengers, 26 are tourists paying for a place on the expedition tracing the journey Australian explorer Douglas Mawson made 100 years ago. The ship left last month from New Zealand and were expected to return in January.

It was just over a mile from open water when it got stuck on Christmas Eve.

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